It’s the beginning of September, so my chance to chat with Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com about articles and studies she has brought to our attention over the past month.

During August, Ellen visited the Kinnikinnick storefront in Edmonton and the pictures she took of the amazing baked goods would make any celiac’s mouth water. My Visit to Kinnikinnick Foods' Store Front in Edmonton

Ellen published a study about teens with celiac disease and the link with body image and potential mental health issues – this is a must read for parents of celiac children. There is good news in that the teens who strictly adhered to the gluten free diet were less likely to have body image and anxiety issues. Body Image Dissatisfaction, Depression & Anxiety in Celiac Teens

The big news on the scientific front is a newly formulated “atlas” of the cells in the gut differentiate which cells are involved in the gluten reaction. This new discovery will aid researchers world-wide in targeting therapies and even a cure in the future. New Understanding | How the Small Intestine Reacts to Gluten in Celiac Patients

Ellen has updated her Fast Food Dining page for the US. This list takes you to the webpages of different fast food restaurants and what they say regarding gluten and allergens in their restaurants – an invaluable guide. UPDATED! Gluten-Free Guide to Fast Food Dining - USA

I was able give an update on the community partners and their donations to Celiac Camp – Purest Gluten Free, O’Doughs, Only Oats, Schar, Kinnikinnick Foods, FreeYumm, Rizopia, Gutsies, Pilling Foods, Cavendish Farms, Corn Thins & Royal Nuts. With great appreciation – Thank You!

O'Doughs Supports Camp Celiac with Bagel Donation Corn Thins Supports Camp Celiac with Donation

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

This second part of the wrap up conversation with Ellen focused more on the experiences I had in the varied restaurants where we ate on our trip. Breakfast was usually the same and eaten in the hotel room, lunch was on the road and dinner was normally after we’d checked in to our hotel – but those were the only constants. I enjoy different ethnic cuisines, and I treated myself often.

Ellen and I spoke not only about fast food places which primarily made up our lunch choices, but franchise restaurants and why in both cases these can often be your best choices for a gluten free meal.

If you’re not familiar with Cinde Little and her recipes, here’s the link to the Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet as well as a link to The Celiac Scene where you’ll find everything Ellen Bayens is working on for us.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to make this trip with my daughter, to experience so much of what a Canadian road trip offers and as well tick a couple of things off my bucket list. Thanks for taking the time to join me while I travelled and now while I look back on a wonderful opportunity to see so much of Canada and do it safely gluten free.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

On this podcast I get to catch up with Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com about the articles and information she has brought to our attention over the past month. Summer is usually a slow time when it comes to releasing information about studies and new products, but as usual, Ellen has found some valuable information to share with us.

Selena DeVries RD has a new program to help celiac patients relieve some of their ongoing symptoms with dietary supplementation. Selena has also written about the Gluten Free Diet as only the first step in treating our celiac disease.

While I was in Calgary, I was invited for dinner by Cinde Little, the Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet. Cinde made an amazing ice cream for dessert for me – Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream – and now wants to share the recipe with us (it was amazing!).

Big News – Ellen has updated her Guide to Fast Food Dining which directs us to the allergen pages of fast-food restaurants here in Canada. It’s easy to look up a restaurant this way without having to go through many links. Ellen has put the information at our fingertips.

New on the market – Gluten Free English Muffins from O’Dough’s. Look for them where you regularly shop (they’re sold out online!) – this is great news!

Here are the links - Updated! Gluten-Free Guide to Fast Food Dining - Canada

CELIAC SCENE NEWS

Supplements That Actually Reduce Bloating & Constipation | Selena, RD

A Canadian Celiac Podcast

What I Learned on My Road Trip across Canada - Part 1

SELENA RD, INSTAGRAM CORNER

3 Things Selena Tells Celiacs with Persistent Symptoms How to Enjoy More Freedom on the Gluten-Free Diet How to Enjoy Relief from Celiac Symptoms What Exactly is Constipation? A Strict Gluten-Free Diet is Only Step One

 GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS & SERVICES

O'Dough's Perfects the Gluten-Free English Muffin

GLUTEN-FREE RECIPES

Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream by Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

While I was recording my relatively short podcast episodes from “the road” travelling from Eastern Ontario to Vancouver Island, I mentioned that I would have to chat to Ellen about some things I encountered along the way in a future podcast. Here is the first part of that podcast chatting about things I learned from my road trip. The second part will be somewhat longer, as we kept talking, and that will be available in the middle of August.

Some things I learned included how important it was for me to have a fridge and microwave in our hotel room and how I utilized the breakfast provided, even though I couldn’t eat any of it. Also, how I planned for my trip to make the most of the opportunities to discover something new gluten free.

I’m hoping that my experiences will take some of the anxiety away from your future road trips. I had wonderful meals, met some great people, and saw a great many places along the way. And I got to meet two friends of the podcast whom I’d never met before – Cinde Little, Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet as well as Ellen Bayens of The Celiac Scene.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

I’m back home from my road trip and am overdue talking to Ellen Bayens about things she has brought to our attention over the month of June on theceliacscene.com.

Ellen was excited to tell us about an experimental test for celiac disease coming out of Australia. The test involves drawing blood and introducing a form of gluten to the blood to look for a specific reaction to show that the individual has celiac disease. Both Ellen and I described this as a “game-changer” with many practical uses for diagnosis within our community. Hopefully this test will eventually become a common diagnostic tool worldwide.

A new study looks at the risk of kissing someone who has recently eaten gluten. It was a small study, but did indicate that the risk under the controlled circumstances was less than 20ppm and not a serious concern.

Ellen and I spoke about the contributions Mike Rose made to the celiac community. Mike passed away earlier this year, but he is remembered for his years as a celiac volunteer and educator. I spoke to Mike about his investigation to find a safe retirement home for him and his wife. Ellen was helped by Mike when she first found out she needed to eat gluten free. Mike will be missed by many.

Ellen was contacted again this year regarding her local school board looking for host families for international students who require a gluten free diet. There is a need for host families across the country, so if this is something you would like to do, please contact your local school board to see if there is a need in your area.

I’ll be recording with Ellen in the next week about things I learned during my recent gluten free road trip from Ontario to Vancouver Island.

CELIAC SCENE NEWS

• New Blood Test for Celiac Disease Could Dispense with Gluten Challenge
• Small Study Suggests Kissing after a Gluten Snack is Safe for Celiacs
• Celiac Crusader, Mike Rose, Tackled Challenges of Moving into Residential Living
• Could You Host an International Student with Celiac Disease?
• Learn more about Ellen!

SELENA RD, INSTAGRAM CORNER

• Have You Been Left to 'Google' the Gluten-Free Diet?
• Peristent Symptoms Despite a Gluten-Free Diet?
• Fast Food Restaurants That You can Eat at Safely
• How to Stay Celiac-Safe at Fast Food Restaurants
• How to Order Gluten-Free - Safely
• Some Celiac-Safe Products CAN Contain Wheat
• Spontaneous Gluten-Free Dining - No Research Needed
• Stop Relying on Gluten-Friendly Menus to Keep You Safe
• Do Scanner Apps Keep You Safe?
• Tuesday Q & A on Instagram

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

I made it to my final destination of Comox British Columbia where my daughter was joining her boyfriend who had been stationed there earlier this year. A very long trip but they organized for an apartment and everything went very smoothly. 

While staying in a hotel before they got their keys, we went out for breakfast to Smitty’s (the GF dedicated restaurant in town was too busy to take us which is great for them!) I spoke to the server at Smitty’s about gluten free and she was very knowledgeable. I try to order relatively simply when they don’t say anything on the menu, but have the knowledge. I had eggs over easy, bacon and potato shreds which were all done on the flattop away from any pancakes. I had a very satisfying and filling breakfast!

We were finally able to grocery shop and cook for ourselves which made meals easier in the apartment, but there were still restaurants I wanted to try. We had dinner at a dedicated gluten free restaurant called Off the Hook. Crab cakes are something delicate that I love, but usually can’t have, but at this restaurant I could have them and they were terrific! I also had the fish and chips, which were some of the best. I’m so spoiled!

My daughter saw a gluten free bakery just outside of Comox on the highway, which she thought I’d be interested in. It was not what I expected – from a storefront perspective – but the food I bought was amazing. They had and extensive line of bread and cookies and tarts and buns all gluten free and also with keto and dairy free in mind. I need to discuss this bakery more with Ellen.

My last restaurant stop was at Taco Bandido in Courtney. Most things on the menu could be made gluten free and I was happy when the server said the chef would clean off a portion of the cook top to ensure no gluten came into contact with my tacos. I had the Beef Birria tacos once again to compare them the ones I had in Thunder Bay. Both were great, but these ones were so rich (yummy) that I could only eat half of the order and brought the rest back to the apartment with me.

I’m flying home tomorrow but will be recapping my trip with Ellen on a podcast in the next couple of weeks. If you have any questions for me please email them to [email protected].

I’ve loaded some pictures on my blog.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

We spent the next night in Kamloops, and I was lucky enough to have pizza left from lunch, so that filled the spot for dinner. In the morning, we headed towards the ferry terminal south of Vancouver for the ferry to Victoria at 3pm. I wanted to get to the ferry early, which was a good thing as we met so much traffic leaving for the mountains for the long holiday weekend. I decided to get another taco salad from Wendy’s and enjoyed eating it while in the line for the ferry.

We arrived on Vancouver Island and drove to our hotel in downtown Victoria. I decided on an Indian restaurant a few blocks away called Sizzling Tandoor reported to have lots of gluten free options. They did, and I thoroughly enjoyed butter chicken, rice and poppadums which are thin chips usually made from lentil flour that are a great substitute for bread if they are made gluten free.

I have been looking forward to the next morning for so long. It was my opportunity to finally meet Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com whom I have been friends with for years but never met. Ellen made reservations for us to have brunch at one of her favourite restaurants – Six Mile Pub. We sat in the cozy gazebo on the patio, met with the chef and had the best gluten free meal I can remember. We asked the chef for three different dishes, and we were treated to creative steak & eggs, poached eggs and pancakes. Although they sound simple, these dishes were works of art and I savoured every bite. There’s nothing better than sharing an amazing meal with a good friend. Ellen and I could have talked for hours, but Trish and I had to be on our way heading for our final destination of Comox.

Ellen suggested we stop at the town of Ladysmith along the way to visit The Wild Poppy, a gluten free bakery. What a treat – I bought a massive blueberry scone, date square and butter tart. I’m so spoiled.

After arriving in Comox, Trish’s boyfriend met us, and we decided to try a burger place Ellen has raved about. The Big Wheel is worth the hype – no flax in the GF hamburger bun and a separate fryer – Perfect!

We’ve settled in here for a few days until I fly back to Ontario. Now I can try the gluten free options in Comox – more treats to come!

I’ve loaded some pictures on my blog.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

We left Regina on a nice sunny day and headed west. We stopped at Wendy’s (again) for lunch, but this time I had the taco salad – without the corn chips as apparently, they aren’t safe. You get a nice salad, a good portion of chili and some salsa. I poured the chili on the salad and thoroughly enjoyed my lunch in the car.

Cinde Little, the Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet was very kind to invite us for dinner at her home in Calgary that evening. She made a menu card especially for us. All the recipes came from her blog everydayglutenfreegourmet and they were delicious! Cinde even served edible flowers from her garden with the dessert and sent me home with a goodie bag!

Here’s the menu links –

Adobo Chicken Southwestern Quinoa Salad with Chipotle Mayo Steamed Green Beans Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream with edible flowers Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

We were actually staying in Airdrie, north of Calgary. We left from there to travel west through the mountains on our way to Kamloops for our next hotel stay. We looked ahead to find a restaurant that might suit as we are travelling with our small dog. We decided on The Turning Point in Golden BC. What a great find – they even had a doggie patio! They had two kinds of gluten free pizza – one had flax, so I was thankful there was another choice of a cauliflower crust pizza. Their pepperoni wasn’t gluten free so I opted for a ham and pineapple with onions and green peppers – Wow, it was amazing and I had enough to bring along with us to heat up later for dinner. Tomorrow we take the ferry to Victoria.

I’ve loaded some pictures on my blog.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

We arrived in Winnipeg in plenty of time to settle into our hotel and go to Montanas for dinner. I’ve eaten at Montanas a number of times and always get the ribs with Texas bold sauce and a baked potato with butter – very yummy!

I had my last sandwich on the road which worked out well as there aren’t many places for me to have a hot lunch on the Trans Canada Highway between Winnipeg and Regina. Once in Regina I was excited to go out for fish and chips at a very busy sports bar/restaurant called 4 Seasons. The owner’s wife is celiac and they have an extensive gluten free menu. My fish was wonderful and I was offered gf gravy to go with my chips which was a real treat.

We ended up staying longer in Regina than expected to get a small thing fixed on the car. We went to the science museum and ended up at The Lobby restaurant for a chicken Caesar salad for lunch – one of the best I’ve had!

We finished the night with chili and a baked potato from Wendy’s – always good and filling.

We’re leaving in the morning to get to Calgary where I’ve been invited for a very special dinner with a friend of the podcast – so looking forward to it.

I’ve loaded some pictures on my blog.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]

We left Sault Ste. Marie in an intense thunderstorm, and rain and wind stayed with us on and off for the next couple of days. Our drive to Thunder Bay was very scenic, but so many trees and so much wilderness. Not many places to stop – I was glad I had my cold cuts and buns with me for lunch.

Once we arrived in Thunder Bay the restaurant I had picked out was a short walk from our hotel. It was a Mexican restaurant called Nortenos Taqueria. I got the Beef Birria – it was so yummy I started to eat it before I took the photo (there were originally 3 tacos). This restaurant has a gluten free fryer!

We stopped and took a photo with The Big Goose near Wawa (it was very windy).

We also drove by the longitudinal Centre of Canada – I never thought this was a thing, but it’s cool to think I was there.

Our next stop was in Winnipeg.

I’ve loaded some pictures on my blog.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Email – [email protected]

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram - @suesgfbaking

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – [email protected]